10 Things to do in Etne Municipality That You Shouldn't Miss

In Stodle, as at Grindheim, we are able to observe the connection between the church, cemetery and a pre-Christian burial ground. The long church was the Viking chieftain Erling Skakke's private chapel from about 1160. The stone section was built in Romanesque style, and the timbered nave was extended around 1650. An altarpiece and a crucifix from 1636 can also be found here. The baroque pulpit dates from about 1600 and the two church bells from the Middle Ages. In front of the church is a burial mound and stone monument. On the edge of the large Stodle terrace, with its magnificent view over Etne parish and the fjord, about 15 burial mounds remain today. These were erected for the people of Stodle farm, and excavated finds bear witness to continuous habitation from the Bronze Age to the Viking Age, a period lasting some 2000 years. Helgaberget (Holy Rock) at Stodle is covered with rock carvings. Information board. Ample parking. Open Sundays: 19.00-13.00. For guided tours, please contact Church office, tel. 53 77 11 70.

Seen from the boat, the landscape is like a string of pearls with the cascading Langfoss Waterfall the most impressive of them all. With its 612-metre cascading fall, it has justifiably been rated as one of the ten most beautiful waterfalls in the world by CNN and others. The contrasts in akrafjorden are huge: Naked mountain sides, luscious pastures, still-reflecting fjords and cascading glacial waters, Stone Age remains and small power stations all inspiring admiration for the people who live and have lived here. On the roadless north side of the fjord we can trek along overgrown tracks between idyllic small farms, while traffic whisks trough the new tunnel on E-134 on the south side. Visible is Braskot Farm, a mountain plateau location so steep that the children there had to be safely tethered by rope. Seen from the boat, the landscape is like a string of pearls with the cascading Langfoss Waterfall the most impressive of them all. With its 612-metre cascading fall, it has been justifiably been nominated as one of the ten most beautiful waterfalls in the world. A short fjord cruise leaves you with lasting impressions. Bustransfer from Haugesund can be booked in addition to the tour. Haukeliekspressen bus: Departure Haugesund 09.20 - arrival Teigland 10.55, departure Teigland 16.30 - arrival Haugesund 18.20. Summer of 2011 you can board MS Stein Viking from akrafjordtunet (Teigland, in the middle of the Fjord). The first departure Thursdays, Saturdays and the one on Sunday have a brake with an opportunity of shopping local food and handcrafts. Departures from Fjaera (in the end of the Fjord) is also possible Thursdays 12:30 and Sundays 13:30. From Fjaera pre-booking by phone or mail is required. When boarding at Fjaera, the return goes by Haukeliekspressen bus (included in the price). Arrival Fjaera at 15:15 both days. Book you tickets online or by by mail or telephone. For groups on request at special prices in an exteded season. akrafjorden Fjord is situated between Haugesund, Hardanger and Bergen where Folgefonna Glacier National Park stretches all the way down to the sea. akrafjorden is a designated Landscape park, and receipts from ticket sales contribute to the continued care of this unique area. Bus transfer to akrafjorden from Haugesund.

Marked path from Skromme. 30 minute walk from the bridge by the E-134 highway. Steep but fenced on the uppermost stretch. A deep hole in the rock face measuring up to 3-4 metres in diameter, carved out by ice and stones in the tumultuous river throughout hundreds of years.

Glacial potholes are round caves in the mountain made by water, ice and stones i the last iceage. In the steep mountain walls at Rullestadjuvet you can see some of Northern Europes largest potholes several meters in diameter. Some holes are twins and others are single. The potholes have during the decades been filled with mud and water, but this make them no less impressive! The area are situated close to the old E134 in Rullestadjuvet, but the potholes can not be seen from the road. To visit the potholes you can follow the Postvegen track from Skromme and then turn left at the road-sign to Jettegrytnuten. The hike is not long, but quite difficult as the terrain is very steep. The hike requires good equipment, and must not be done in wet terrain! Ask for local advice at the Tourist Information ore at Rullestad Aktiv Fritid before you make this trip!

The hiking trip follows the old Post Road that dates from the 1800s and sneaks along the riverside down through Rullestadjuvet Gorge. The walk begins in dramatic landscape at the edge of a waterfall and cliff. Further below, the terrain is gentler and the view of nearby farms and shimmering Lake Rullestadvatnet is very enjoyable. The historic trail was restored in 2009 and is easy to follow. Starts from the old E134 on top of the Rullestadjuvet and stops at the farms by the Rullestadvatnet lake, aprox. 2 kilometers. You can easily walk on your own, and groups can hire a guide on request. Along the way, the guide is happy to share the rich history of the area with you. Remember to bring comfortable shoes/hiking boots/boots, camera, also remember to dress according to the climate.

The current church at Grindheim dates from 1783, although there has been a church on the same site for much longer than that. The church features incredibly beautiful rose-painted decorations, produced by Tore Asbjornson Risoyne. The basic motif is the well-known acanthus vine, which was widely used in rose painting and wood carving. The church was decorated in 1791, but in 1898 the decorations were painted over, because it was felt that the congregation spent too much time looking at them during services. In 1941 the decorations were uncovered as part of a major restoration project, and the inside of the church now provides a wonderful example of Norwegian rose painting. Opening times: guided tours in the summer months. Please contact the tourist office for further information.

Gjerde Church erected in 1676. Features include distinctive wall decorations. Rune stone adjacent to the church.

- A family-friendly trip to akra with the scent of horses, campfire and mountain pastures. Crossing the fjord by boat to the quay in akra, we drive up the steep forest path to the mountains, where Trygve and his assistants are waiting with the horses. Th